1 NRE
On the private beach of the Varykino villa on Naboo, Leia lay in the soft white sand as the warm summer winds drifted lightly over the waters to create soft waves which lapped at her feet. Leia felt at peace on the island, as close to tranquility as she had been able to find since leaving Alderaan. All too often Leia wished that she'd taken one last look at the snow-capped mountains, had swum once more in the deep blue seas and fixed everything of her homeworld into her memory. More than anything, Leia wished that she'd embraced her mother one last time and told her she loved her, rather than simply giving her a wave from the spaceport. She wished she'd kissed her father's cheek and held him tightly, rather than dismissing his desire for her to be careful with a laugh and a light punch to the arm.
It had been a dangerous mission, but Leia had held then the arrogance and folly of youth, and the thought that she might not ever see her beloved parents or homeworld again had never crossed her mind. She made no such mistakes, now. Every time she left Han or Luke or Winter she would embrace them tightly and give them a firm "I love you." Just in case.
"Leia?"
She heard Sola's gentle voice call from the house, and Leia turned to see her aunt walking regally down the steps which led to the beach. Leia struggled to get up, her rounded belly making standing with grace or speed rather difficult. However Sola had floated to her side in moments, her strong hands helping Leia to stand and find purchase on the sand beneath her feet.
"My dear," Sola cupped her face and smiled warmly. "How are you today?"
"Alright," Leia replied, and rubbed her swollen belly absently. "He's been very quiet this morning," she said with some relief. Usually, her son was so active, spinning in her womb and punching out his little hands and feet as if he was already eager to join the world. At night she would lay in bed as Han rubbed pomegrail oil into her belly and whisper "Not yet, little one," since there was still a month to go before the due date. Then Leia would sing Alderaanian lullabies and usually he would calm down enough to allow Leia to sleep.
"He has the Naberrie spirit," Sola told her proudly, and helped Leia back up the stairs and into the house where the maid quickly brought them a pot of tea. Leia had already had a cup with breakfast, but was happy to share a pot as it had become her and Sola's ritual. Content, she relaxed onto the chaise and smiled warmly at her aunt.
"I remember when Padmé was a little girl," Sola added as she poured the tea. "She could never sit still, I was always trailing after her with something she'd forgotten - a shoe, a scarf or a hair clip." She laughed lightly in reminiscence and handed Leia a teacup, made exactly to her taste with a dash of milk and two spoons of sugar. "She learned how to sit still, though," Sola added somewhat sadly. "A Queen must have poise and grace, and never fidgets."
"My mother used to say that to me," Leia said softly. "Breha Organa, I mean," she added quickly when Sola's face betrayed a flicker of hurt. "I could never sit still, either."
Sola abandoned her tea and came to sit beside Leia, taking her hands and squeezing them lightly. "Of course Breha was your mother," Sola said, perhaps as much for her own benefit as Leia's. "I'm sure Padmé would have wanted them to raise you, since she could not."
Leia was touched by her aunt's kindness. "Do you...wonder why they did not bring Luke and me here?" she asked.
Sola looked down at their joined hands and gave a slight sigh. "I suppose they thought it would be too dangerous," she said slowly. "It was...difficult here on Naboo once the Empire reigned, and taking in two infants who were not my own may have raised suspicions, so close after Padmé's death." When Sola looked up again, her eyes were bright with tears. "I wish they had told us, though. Even just to know that you were alive - we would have stayed away, if that's what they wanted. But I wish I had been able to look up in the sky these past years, and know that you were both out there, somewhere."
Leia reached forward and embraced Sola, although she could not comfort the woman by saying that she wished the same. It was an impossible choice, and one Leia had decided not to dwell over any longer. The last twenty-five years were done and could not be altered, but the future was entirely in their own hands.
"I'm sorry to be so silly," Sola said as she pulled away, dabbing at her eyes with a handkerchief she retrieved from the fold of her dress. "I am grateful for the time we have together now. When does Luke arrive?"
"In two weeks," Leia confirmed, grateful to move to other conversation.
"We must have a celebration when he gets here," Sola said. "If I can tear Darred away from his fishing to help organise one, of course," she added lightly, and Leia smiled. Sola's husband had arrived at the villa early that morning intent on taking Han out on the waters. "You still need to meet the rest of the family, since your last visit was cut short."
"Hopefully Luke doesn't get himself kidnapped this time," Leia joked.
"He should hope he does not," Sola laughed. "Or he will have me to answer to."
They drank their tea and chatted about Sola's plans for the family reunion; apparently there were Naberries all over Naboo who were anxious to meet her and Luke. It was nice to be part of a family again, Leia decided; it had been so long since she could defer responsibility to another, and for her part Sola seemed intent on taking care of everything.
However as the day wore on Leia began to feel unwell. At first she simply thought it was the baby kicking, but when she pressed a hand to her stomach there was no movement. It started as simple unease; a slight nausea. But then it grew until Leia's head felt light and her body heavy, and she knew something was seriously wrong. Leia struggled to stand as she felt something clawing at her insides, a sharp pinch spreading from her womb and into her blood.
"Leia?" Sola cupped her face in her hands, her uncontrollable fear seeping from her, intermingling with Leia's own, amplifying it until she could feel nothing else but that and the pain.
"It's the baby," Leia said desperately, holding her belly as another slice of agony cut through her. It felt as if she was being torn in two as darkness fell about her like a shroud. "Get help…" was all she managed to gasp out before her entire world went black.
29 NRE
Luke and Ben walked up the familiar stone steps of the Naberrie house in Theed, and as always Luke felt his heart lighten. Naboo had become a second home to him, and he had so many fond memories of the house as well as the villa in the lake district. It had been too long since he'd visited, as his Aunt Sola had reminded him when he'd commed her.
The butler Tain let them into the house where Sola now lived alone. Darred had died three years earlier, and of course Luke's grandparents were long gone. Whilst Pooja and her family resided on Coruscant where she served as the Senator for the Chommel sector, Ryoo still lived in Theed with her husband, as did their six children and four grandchildren. As such, Sola was rarely without company.
Except it seemed, that day, as when Luke and Ben were shown into the parlour Sola sat alone in her armchair. Even though she was in her mid-eighties, Sola's posture was perfect, her hands resting lightly on the armrests of her chair as if she was a queen giving audience. And yet she did not seem to notice their entrance, as if her mind was far away.
"Hello, Auntie," Luke crossed the room and bent down to kiss the old woman's cheek. "It's Luke."
Sola's face broke into a smile as she swatted at him. "I know it's you, Luke," she said. "My mind hasn't gone yet." Her eyes turned to her great-nephew, crinkling at the corners as she smiled. "And of course, Bennie." She held out her arms, beckoning the young man closer, who grimaced at the nickname, but knelt down to give her a firm hug.
"It's good to see you, Aunt Sola," he said, kneeling by her chair as he had done since he was a boy. Ever since Luke had first visited the house thirty years earlier there had been an ever-replenished bowl of sweets on the caf table, and Ben reached for one without needing to look, unwrapping it and popping it in his mouth.
"You've gotten so tall," Sola commented as she patted Ben's head. "You must take after your grandfather, because heaven knows you didn't get that height from your parents."
"Sola, stop teasing," Luke said gently through a smile as he settled himself on the chair next to her.
"What other joy does an old woman get out of life?" Sola asked back, stroking Ben's hair softly. "Now, how long do I have with you boys before duty pulls you away?"
"We have an audience with Queen Nebulla this afternoon," Luke said somewhat regretfully. "But we should be back by tonight." They were of course staying in the house since Sola wouldn't have accepted any alternative plans.
"Is there trouble, Luke?" Sola asked as she turned to him, for the first time sounding slightly uneasy.
Luke took one of her hands in both of his. "We've tracked two Sith here to Naboo," he told her. "We think that they've been researching our family history - so I want you to be careful."
"A Sith?" Sola asked, her earlier mirth dissolving into steely consideration. "I thought they'd been wiped out."
"So did we," Luke replied with a grimace.
"Well I'm sure the Queen will give you the support of the army," Sola added, her mind as ever quickly turning to the matter at hand. "We do not forget that our beautiful world produced the evil that was Palpatine. We cannot allow another Sith to take hold here."
"We won't, Aunt Sola," Ben said firmly. "We'll stop them."
"Master Horn came to see me when he first arrived," Sola noted, patting Luke's hand absently. "I was under the impression that he had not found anything."
"The Sith only arrived on planet shortly before we did," Luke said solemnly. "I've filled Corran in - he's at the palace now meeting with the Queen's security council."
Sola sighed with resignation. "Then I should not delay you."
"We can stay a few more minutes," Luke said, loathe to leave the comfort of his Aunt's house so soon. Or at least until the security detail he'd ordered for Sola's protection arrived.
"Well then," Sola's countenance immediately brightened again. "Tell me, how is dear Jaina?" she asked. "Surely she must be a Jedi by now."
Luke smiled. "Soon I think, Auntie," he said. "But that decision rests with Mara."
"You must bring all of the family here for Jaina's knighting ceremony," Sola insisted. "I don't care to travel to Coruscant at my age and I refuse to miss it."
"Of course, Sola," Luke patted her hand. "I'm sure Jaina would like that."
"Dear girl looks so much like Padmé," Sola observed wistfully, and glanced at the large holo of her sister which hung above the mantlepiece. In the image Padme was not a Queen or a Senator, but perhaps the young woman Sola remembered, her hair unbound and her smile broad. Luke had spent many hours sitting in Sola's parlour staring at the image, reflecting on the woman who had been his mother. The resemblance to both Leia and Jaina was undeniable, but Luke believed there was something of himself in Padmé's smile.
Always, he remembered Leia's words of her; beautiful, kind, sad. What a burden it must have been, Luke had mused long ago, to see the man she loved so dearly turn against her and everything she believed it. He'd meditated at length on the subject, trying to unlock a memory of her; a skill that had come so easily to Leia but Luke had always found difficult to master. Visions of the future came to him unbidden and frequently, although they often made little sense. But the past was as foreign and mysterious to him as an uncharted star system.
Eventually, his determination had borne fruit, although it was bitter to taste. He was able to bring to mind only a voice, soft and weak with pain. Obi-Wan...there is still good in him...there is still...
Luke tore his eyes away from the image and refocused his attention on Sola, who had been expressing her eagerness to see all of her grandchildren in the same room.
"It has been a long while since we had a family holo taken," she pointed out. "And I have yet to meet young Zeb, who I hear has captured my dear Jaina's heart."
Luke's eyebrows shot up in surprise, and Ben choked on the boiled sweet he was eating, coughing and spluttering on the floor as Sola patted his back firmly.
"What makes you say that?" Luke asked. He knew that Zeb and Jaina had become better friends in the last year and there had been some innocent flirting, but it was the first he'd heard of an actual romance.
"Both your wife and sister mentioned it," Sola told him, absently running smooth circles on Ben's back as he calmed down. "You know my dear Leia comms once a week, and I had a nice chat with Mara the other day as well."
"Well, they would know," Luke shrugged, a smile working its way onto his face. No one was better at ferreting out a secret than Leia and Mara.
"And you, young man," Sola addressed Ben, pinching his cheek. "Your mother tells me you have been working entirely too hard."
Ben ducked his head sheepishly, and his hair fell into his eyes. "I'm a Jedi now, Aunt Sola," he replied. "I have to work hard if I'm going to be the first Jedi in history to become a Master by twenty-seven."
"You almost became the first Jedi in history to die by choking on a sweetie," Luke pointed out dryly.
"What a way to go through," Ben replied, and popped another into his mouth. "My obituary could read: Ben Skywalker, Jedi Knight and Sweet Enthusiast. Sorely missed by confectionary companies."
"It seems the only thing you're not working hard on is your jokes," Luke shot back with a smile.
"Boys, please," Sola shot him a silencing look and then turned back to Ben. "I'm serious, my dear. Does being a Jedi means you are not allowed to do anything else?" she pressed. "I thought all of that nonsense was done away with."
Luke smothered his broadening smile with one hand - Mara had been on the comm to Sola again about her wayward children. She'd been concerned about Ben since his estrangement from Syal Antilles, and had more than once complained that her son seemed to have taken after Luke in the tendency to throw himself into Jedi duties when he was upset. Luke had pointed out quite rationally that Mara was no stranger to internalising her feelings, and his wife had simply huffed and turned away. Clearly in Sola she'd found a more sympathetic ear.
"I...have responsibilities," Ben tried to argue, his levity falling away. "I want to create a Jedi Starfighter Corps, and I have much more study to do to master Vapaad, and there's this Sith threat..."
Sola ruffled Ben's hair affectionately. "You can do all of that, dear one," she said kindly. "But listen to your old Auntie when she says that duty alone never made anyone happy."
Ben opened his mouth as if to respond, but was interrupted by Sola's butler Tain appearing in the doorway.
"Madame Naberrie, you have another guest," Tain said, and indicated a young dark-haired man in Jedi robes who entered the parlour behind him.
"Master Skywalker," Zekk greeted him, and bowed. "You sent for me?"
"Ah, yes," Luke rose from his seat and crossed the room to shake Zekk's hand firmly. "Did you bring the troops?"
Zekk nodded. "Two forces of Theed security on loan from the palace - they're outside setting up a perimeter."
"Luke?" Sola asked, rising from her chair. "What is going on?"
Ben rose with her and put a hand on her shoulder. "They're for your protection, Aunt Sola," he told her.
"I will not be kept a prisoner in my own home," Sola said firmly.
Luke returned to her side. "You won't be, Auntie," he told her in a tone that warranted no argument. "But Zekk will be here when Ben and I cannot be, just in case."
Sola's expression softened, and she took Luke's hand to squeeze it firmly. She had never denied Luke anything he had ever asked of her. "If you insist, my darling."
"I do."
"Master Skywalker," Zekk cut in. "Master Horn is waiting for you at the palace."
Sola squeezed his hand again. "You both be careful."
Luke smiled; he'd lost track of the number of times he'd been told that in the past few weeks. "I promise, Auntie," he said, and kissed her cheek.
In the throne room of the Theed Royal Palace, Corran Horn gave every appearance of rapt attention as the Prime Minister of Naboo waxed poetic about the upcoming Unity Festival. In actuality Corran was carefully eyeing the gathered members of the Royal Court.
Queen Nebulla was seated in her throne behind the desk of state, her jet-black hair up in an elaborate braided style. Her light brown skin was visible through her finely-boned fingers peeking out from beneath the large purple sleeves of her dress, but her face was shielded by pale white makeup which succeeded in partially obscuring her expression. She was young, perhaps eighteen, but carried herself in a way that gave credence to the Naboo belief that youth was no hindrance to ability.
To the Queen's right was Boss Trell, an Otolla Gungan with tawny-coloured skin, pronounced ears and a long neck which leant her a regal aura. Although Theed was Nebulla's dominion, a seat was always given to the head of the Gungan High Council, and decisions regarding the planet were made in concert. War, Corran had often found, drew former enemies together, and while relations between the Gungans and humans of Naboo remained a tad strained, it was far more harmonious than it had been previously. Or so the history download had told him before he'd travelled to the planet, but he'd found no reason to doubt it authenticity now he had been on the world for some months.
There had been times in the past few weeks when Corran had doubted his insistence on staying even though he had uncovered no evidence of a threat. In truth he longed to return to his family on Coruscant, but knew that even if he was there, in all likelihood they would not be. His wife Mirax was exceedingly busy as head of the Smuggler's Alliance, and his son Valin was probably still on his mission to Rodia. Of course his daughter Jysella was still a padawan and therefore kept planetside, and it would be a joy to see how much she was learning.
But Corran trusted in the Force and his own instincts which had told him that Naboo was where he was needed. It was with some treacherous relief that he'd been right, and that the Sith which had been discovered on Tatooine were now on Naboo. After months of fruitless searches, social functions and political events, Corran was itching for a fight.
"Master Horn," Queen Nebulla spoke up, cutting off her minister's speech. "Your presence honours us, but I understand your visit today is not to view our historical archives as before."
"No," Corran conceded. "Master Skywalker will arrive shortly and explain."
There was a small rumbling of excitement between the gathered ministers, and Boss Trell's translator spoke to her quietly. Only Nebulla and her handmaidens seated behind her did not react.
"We will be honoured to welcome Grand Master Skywalker," Nebulla said, and although her expression did not change she seemed pleased. "I should have known he would be coming when Jedi Zekk requested a protective detail from our Security Chief for Madame Naberrie."
Corran was impressed that the Queen would be aware of such small details, but he was saved from answering when an attendant announced Luke's arrival. Corran smiled to himself as he watched the assembled group sit up straighter in their chairs and turn their faces towards the entrance. Queen Nebulla's posture was already perfect and she did not move, and neither did Boss Trell, although Corran felt a spike of anticipation through the Force.
Corran had known Luke for almost thirty years, far too long to be intimidated by his friend's presence. Yet it always amused him to see people meet the Jedi Grand Master for the first time, and Corran had to admit as Luke walked across the throne room towards them the sight was impressive. Although Luke was an unassuming man, shorter than the average and sporting a greying beard, his presence was undeniable. He shone brilliantly through the Force, so much so that it seemed perceptible even to those who did not have such abilities.
As a child Corran's father had taught him some Jedi techniques and told him tales of his Jedi Master grandfather, but he'd never expected to become a Jedi himself. But when Wedge had first introduced Corran to Luke it had only taken a few minutes before he'd been convinced that he was a man he could follow into anything. Luke had a way of speaking which made someone feel as if they were actually being listened to, and cared about what they had to say.
"Greetings your Majesty," Luke bowed deeply to Nebulla. "Most high Boss," he bowed again to Trell. "Thank you for receiving me."
"You honour us, Master Skywalker," Nebulla said, inclining her head slightly.
"The honoured Boss Trell is happy to meet the great Jedi Master," Trell's translator spoke after the Boss had spoken in Gunganese.
"Please tell us about this new threat," Nebulla entreated.
Corran listened to Luke explain, since he'd only spoken to him only briefly on the comm. The vague sense of foreboding Corran had felt on Naboo now made sense, when Luke explained that the Sith seemed to be tracking his family history. He would make a point to mediate later and see if the Force would reveal anything further to him.
"I expect that the Sith will soon make their presence known," Luke was saying. "I recommend you put your security forces on high alert in case of disturbance. They may target civilians - I know that the Unity Parade is to begin your festivities, and that is likely why they chose this come of year to come."
"Master Horn has already been working with the Theed Regulars," Nebulla nodded to Corran. "Perhaps he can continue to advise them."
"I would be happy to," Corran said, secretly pleased. It would be nice to get back to his Corsec roots.
Luke, however, looked forlorn. "I must apologise for bringing such danger to your planet," he said. "I am the reason that the Sith have returned to Naboo."
Trell said something in Gunganese, her bulbous eyes fixed upon Luke, but strangely her translator did not speak. Clearly the words were for Luke alone, and due to his frequent visits to the planet over the years he appeared to be fluent, for he seemed to have no trouble understanding.
"Thank you, Boss Trell," Luke smiled. "You are very kind."
"This is not a fight between Jedi and Sith," Nebulla said evenly. "But one between good and evil. We are all participants, Master Skywalker, and therefore we are all required to do what we must."
Luke inclined his head. "Indeed."
